3 Rivers Community Foundation (3RCF) wraps up 2020 with an additional $142,000 in grants to local nonprofits. This is in addition to $152,000 in grants through its COVID-19 Response Fund. These grants were made available to local 501c3 nonprofits in Benton and Franklin counties.
“We are very pleased with the growth in our grant program, increasing from $83,000 a year ago, to $142,000 in 2020,” says Abbey Cameron, Executive Director. “Thanks to our donors and fundholders we have been able to support some very critical needs in our community.” This year-end round of grants represents 3RCF’s annual grant program, an application-based process. Nonprofits submitted online applications which were reviewed and evaluated by the 3RCF Board of Directors, and in addition organizations who had not received a grant from 3RCF before were invited to a virtual interview with the Board. As a community foundation, 3RCF is charged with holding and investing funds for various donors and organizations and distributing a portion of the proceeds of those investments for charitable purposes. While some of the distributions are directed by donors, 3RCF maintains an unrestricted fund to support an annual application-based grant program Nonprofits that provide services in Benton and Franklin counties can apply for a grant to support their programs and services. This annual grant program has given over $5.2 million back to our communities since 2004. “We just wouldn’t be who we are today without 3 Rivers” says Kristi Thein, Nutrition Services Director, Senior Life Resources/Meals on Wheels. “We are up about 25% from where we were a year ago, delivering 4500 meals per week. Having those meals impacts not just the seniors but their families. We have families who are trying their very best to take care of their loved ones. It’s really about peace of mind for a lot of folks. Thanks to outside funding sources like 3 Rivers we are able to offer services far beyond just a daily meal to our clients.” Traditionally these grants would be celebrated during an annual Grant Ceremony, giving the nonprofit community an opportunity to be recognized and to connect and network with each other. Due to not being able to gather in person, 3RCF has collected interviews from most of the grantees which are available for viewing at 3RCF’s YouTube Channel. We encourage the community to learn about the amazing work these organizations are doing, especially during this challenging year. In addition, 3RCF launched a COVID-19 Response Fund in April to raise money to support nonprofits who provide critical services and were adapting to the many impacts of the pandemic. This rolling grant process has distributed $152,000 in 2020. This application process is currently closed and will reopen in early 2020 as additional funds become available. For a list of organizations that have received grants this year visit http://3rcf.org/non-profits/recent-grant-recipients-2010/. To make a donation to 3RCF visit https://threeriverscf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate.
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Gesa Credit Union donated $14,200 to support hunger alleviation efforts during the holiday season. Credit union employees visited food banks and distribution centers throughout Washington to safely deliver checks to nonprofit organizations in each of Gesa’s market areas.
Pandemic safety considerations and the large number of people working remotely prevented Gesa from implementing a longstanding credit union tradition of delivering hams to every employee in person. Leadership instead used the opportunity to donate the approximate cost of one ham per person in appreciation for each member of the Gesa team. “Increased food insecurity caused by the Covid-19 pandemic means that many in our community are at risk of going hungry,” said Don Miller, President and CEO of Gesa Credit Union. “Our holiday donations made on behalf of our 710 team members focused on local giving to support organizations working to address this important issue. This honors the true giving spirit of our organization and our team members.” Donations were calculated based on the number of employees in each market area. With 433 employees, the Tri-Cities region is Gesa’s largest. A donation of $8660, or $20 per employee, was made to Second Harvest in Pasco. The Puget Sound Region has 133 employees, and Gesa donated $2600 to Food Lifeline headquartered in Seattle. Second Harvest in Spokane received $1480 representing the 74 employees in the area. Both Yakima and Walla Walla have 24 employees, and $480 donations were made to both the Pantry Shelf of Walla Walla and the Rotary Food Bank in Yakima. Moses Lake and Wenatchee each have 11 employees, and Gesa donated $220 each to Community Services of Moses Lake and the North Central Washington Food Distribution Center in Wenatchee. On average, Washington food banks turn one dollar into ten meals. Gesa’s donation resulted in approximately 142,000 meals into the communities in which its employees live and work. To learn more about Gesa Credit Union’s community involvement, visit www.gesa.com/community. Earlier this month, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions made a significant impact on local nonprofit organizations with year-end community donations. Dubbed the “12 Gifts of Gratitude,” HMIS donated a total of $60,000 to 12 different nonprofits.
Bob Wilkinson, president and general manager of HMIS, shared why these donations are so important. “The HMIS team is grateful for the opportunity we will have to serve the Hanford Site. This has been a challenging year for so many and we know that more people and organizations are in need than ever before. These ‘12 gifts of gratitude’ are our initial way of saying thank you to this community as we prepare to take on the Hanford Mission Essential Services Contract on January 25, 2021. We are committed to making a positive difference in as many ways as we can.” Each of the following organizations received a $5,000 donation from HMIS:
As part of its Community Commitment Plan, HMIS will be investing $10 million in the community over the next ten years, with a focus on Regional Educational Outreach Programs, Regional Purchasing Programs and Community Support. On Saturday, December 19, the public is invited to bring new, unwrapped gifts to the Ranch & Home in Kennewick to help fill the Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) toy trolley. BFT is the co-title sponsor of this event, a toy drive for local children spearheaded by Townsquare Media. All gifts collected will be donated to and distributed by Service Alternatives to help children in the Tri-Cities.
Visitors to Saturday’s event will have the opportunity to show their holiday spirit by donating to hundreds of local children in need:
ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION, including alternative donation bin locations: www.bft.org/ToyTrolley. NOTE TO EVENT VISITORS: Please remember to wear a face covering and practice social distancing while dropping off donations. The Richland City Council and City Manager Cindy Reents Mutually Announce Separation Agreement12/16/2020 After careful consideration, the Richland City Council and City Manager Cindy Reents mutually announce that Ms. Reents will separate from employment with the City of Richland. It has been determined that this is in the best interest of both parties and will be in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in a Separation Agreement. On December 15, 2020, the City Council voted to authorize the signing of an Agreement. However, because the terms of the Agreement have not yet been finalized, no additional details will be discussed at this time.
Ms. Reents will continue to serve as the City Manager and assist with the transition until her last day of employment on January 22, 2021. The Council has not yet determined recruitment efforts for this position. Over the coming weeks, the Council will announce who will serve in the Interim City Manager role. “We appreciate the 17+ years of service Cindy has provided the City of Richland. While the Council and Ms. Reents have mutually chosen to move in a different direction with this position, we recognize and thank her for her contributions to Richland,” states Mayor, Ryan Lukson. “During her tenure, she has played an integral role in several key projects and initiatives including the planning and construction of Fire Station 74, the HAPO Community Stage, the new Richland City Hall, regional dispatching services, and the recent Duportail Bridge. I have worked alongside her in the City’s response to COVID-19 and appreciate her tenacity. The City is financially stable, and that is a remarkable feat in these trying times. Her passion for the community is evident and we wish her the best of luck. The Council is confident the City will continue to operate effectively and efficiently during this transition.” The City of Richland has a population of approximately 58,000 citizens. The City employs over 500 employees across ten departments and several facilities. Visit www.ci.richland.wa.us for more information. The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of River Protection and contractor Bechtel National, Inc. (BNI) have completed construction of the last of 94 systems in the Low-Activity Waste Facility at Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
“Workers continue to make good progress at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant,” said Tom Fletcher, DOE assistant manager for the project. “Completing construction of the nearly 100 systems at the Low-Activity Waste Facility and moving forward with startup testing of the systems are important steps in our preparations to treat tank waste at Hanford.” The systems include a mechanical line for moving empty containers below melters where they will be filled with tank waste that has been vitrified, or immobilized in glass. This video shows treatment plant crews testing the container handling system. As construction of the systems has been completed, they have been turned over to a startup testing team to ensure they work properly prior to commissioning. Of the 94 Low-Activity Waste Facility systems, about a third of them have been tested and handed over to plant management for commissioning. The facility is the size of one-and-a-half football fields and houses two large melters. The melters will vitrify low-activity tank waste that will be pretreated to remove cesium and solids at the tank farms and fed directly to the facility. The approach, called Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste, is a system of interdependent projects and infrastructure improvements, managed and highly integrated as a program, that must operate together successfully to vitrify Hanford’s low-activity tank waste. The next goal for completing construction and turning over Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant facilities to startup testing is the Low-Activity Waste Facility itself, and DOE and BNI are expected to reach that goal in the next few weeks. Earlier this year, Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant staff finished startup testing at the plant’s Analytical Laboratory, which will analyze up to 3,000 samples of waste each year to make sure it meets disposal requirements. Another 14 support facilities that provide utilities such as power, compressed air, and steam are near the end of startup testing and are nearly ready for commissioning. Startup testing verifies that the equipment and systems are functional and in safe working order before being handed over to plant management for commissioning. The commissioning phase ensures the utilities, equipment, and process systems are integrated and ready to support future Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste operations. “The perseverance of our entire team this year has been amazing to get where we are today,” said Valerie McCain, project director and senior vice president of Bechtel. “This accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible without our entire team’s commitment to quality, safety, and progress.” The holidays will look different this year with many folks staying home and planning more intimate celebrations. With indoor dining closures extended through January 4th, the team at Castle wanted to provide a Chef-Crafted menu for people to enjoy safely at home. The Castle Event Catering Christmas at Home Menu features a selection of classics including prime rib and mashed potatoes but also offers some great ideas for Christmas morning including blueberry blintz, pastries, and quiche.
There are two pick up options for Christmas Eve Day, December 24th, either Fresh Express to easily finish at home or Hot & Ready to Enjoy. Castle is also offering a special Winter Cheer Menu with a variety of appetizers and festive drink kits. The Christmas at Home and Winter Cheer Menus can be purchased on the Castle Event Catering website, castleeventcatering.com or by calling 375-4000. Orders for the Christmas at Home Menu must be purchased by Monday, December 21st at 4pm for December 24th pick up at Anthology Event Venue in Richland. Castle began offering Fresh Express meals to-go in the spring when restrictions with COVID-19 began. With most events canceled and celebrations put on-hold, the team pivoted, finding a way to still reach customers and provide delicious food, but in a safe manner. A new Fresh Express Menu from Castle Event Catering, often themed to the season, is offered each week at castleeventcatering.com or by calling 375-4000. The City of Kennewick Planning Department is hosting a Virtual Open House on Monday, December 21, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. to present an overview of its Shoreline Master Program (SMP), the update process and to gather comments, suggestions and other feedback from the public. Participants can join the meeting at www.go2kennewick.com/SMP-Update. The open house will be recorded and posted on the website.
To review proposed changes to the SMP, the SMP checklist and other information, or to submit comments, please visit www.go2kennewick.com/SMP-Update or email [email protected]. Comments can also be submitted by regular mail to Attn: Anthony Muai, 210 W. 6th Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336. State law currently requires agencies to periodically review and update their local SMP regulations and plans. The City of Kennewick is initiating this process in 2020 to be completed in 2021, as mandated by state law for all jurisdictions in Benton County. The Washington State Department of Ecology maintains a list of changes made by the legislature that affect the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) so that local jurisdictions can easily identify local regulations that need to be updated to be consistent with the SMA. Kennewick's SMP defines how the shoreline areas of the City and its urban growth area will be managed. Lands within 200 feet of the Columbia River, and their associated wetlands, are subject to the policies and regulations of the SMP. Other intermittent streams and water bodies, such as Zintel Creek and Elliot Lake, are regulated by the city’s critical areas ordinance only. All properties must comply with the city’s zoning and comprehensive plan, and properties subject to the SMP must comply with critical areas as well. Maverick Cares Celebrates First Anniversary, Holiday Season by Providing Meals for 16,000 People12/11/2020 In partnership with local community leaders, Maverick Cares, a ‘good neighbor’ program of Maverick Gaming that is managed by its team members, is providing free holiday meals for 16,000 people to local families. The pre-packaged meals will include items such as: Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Dinner Rolls, Pumpkin Pie. To learn more about previous Maverick Cares community events, you may access media coverage and details on its website. Maverick Cares was launched in Fall 2019, hosting its first event on December 23, 2019.
The care packages will be distributed on December 23 via a voucher program issued in advance for participating families and respecting all public health measures helping curb the spread of COVID-19. In accordance with public health allowances, Maverick Gaming currently operates 17 of its 19 locations outdoors. Participating families will be able pick up their holiday meal in the parking lots of designated locations listed below. Members of the media are invited to report on the effort as a part of scheduled holiday community outreach coverage. “Just over a year ago, our teammates were ready to prove that Maverick Gaming was committed to giving back where we live and work. We had no idea just how critical community partnerships would be through all the world-changing events of the past year,” said Maverick Gaming CEO and co-founder Eric Persson. “At Maverick Cares, we are humbled by the support of more than 35 local organizations across the state that elevate the ability of our team to help those most in need. This holiday season, as we all strive to keep our families safe while celebrating the holiday, we hope that these meals will help make things just a little bit easier as we together weather the public health and economic storms of 2020.” WHERE: Royal Casino (Everett), Crazy Moose Casino (Mountlake Terrace), Silver Dollar Casino (Bothell), Club Hollywood (Shoreline), Caribbean Casino (Kirkland), Roman Casino (Seattle), Great American Casino (Tukwila), Silver Dollar Casino (Renton), Silver Dollar Casino (SeaTac), Wizards Casino (Burien), Macau Casino (Lakewood), Crazy Moose Casino (Pasco), Caribbean Casino (Yakima). WHEN: For day-of coverage, the care packages will be provided to families with vouchers distributed by partner community organizations between the hours of 3 PM to 7 PM on Tuesday December 23. For stories in advance of the event, please contact Maverick Cares to assist in coordinating. WHO: Maverick Cares is the philanthropic arm of Maverick Gaming, a gaming company established recently by Hoquiam native, Eric Persson. Maverick Cares is managed by its team members and reflects the values and priorities of the communities where the Maverick team lives, works and plays. Local community partners are working with each respective Maverick Gaming location. Additional charitable efforts by Maverick Cares included an employee-driven donation to Toys for Tots during the 2019 holiday season, a July 4th Giveaway earlier in 2020 and free Thanksgiving meals in November. Learn more online. Maverick Gaming operates card rooms in Washington located from Kirkland to Tukwila to Lakewood to Kennewick as well as the Wendover Nugget, Red Garter Hotel, Red Lion Casino and Gold Country Casino in Nevada, as well as three properties in Colorado. Maverick Gaming currently employs more than 2,000 team members in Washington State and intends to invest $500 million in licensed card rooms and planned entertainment developments across the state. At the core of Maverick Gaming’s Responsible Gambling approach is its ‘self-exclusion’ policy, which gives self-identified problem gamblers opportunity to avoid risking their wallets and their well-being. Washington has passed a law requiring the State Gambling Commission to finalize a self-exclusion system by 2021, but Maverick Gaming has already implemented centralized self-exclusion statewide, restricting access to problem gamblers in all its card rooms. To learn more about Maverick Gaming, please visit its website. Benton PUD Commissioner Lori Sanders was elected president of the Benton PUD Board of Commissioners for 2021. Barry Bush was elected vice-president and Jeff Hall was elected secretary. Lori Sanders was originally elected in 2004 and is serving in her third term as commissioner. She resides in Kennewick, Washington.
Benton PUD is directed by a three-member board of commissioners elected by citizens of Benton County. Each commissioner represents a different sector of the county and serves a six-year term. The election of officers takes place annually. |
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